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RCOC EXPANDS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS POTHOLES

The Road Commission for Oakland County is taking several additional steps this year to address the onslaught of potholes that is besieging roads across the region.

“The true root cause of the severe pothole problem is Michigan’s decades-long road-funding crisis that has crippled road-agency efforts to repair roads. However, we are taking every step within our power to address this challenge,” RCOC Chairman Eric Wilson said. “We know that this situation is creating a burden for motorists, and we are doing everything we can to alleviate that.”

Wilson noted these efforts include:

Extended shifts for pothole crews. This includes some crews starting as early as 3 or 4 a.m. to work on roads that are lighted. Other crews will work into the evening. Crews will also continue to work weekends.

Keep part-time, temporary winter employees (hired to help out with plowing and salting) on for an extended period into the spring to help continue to patch potholes.

Extend the hours that the part-time, temporary workers are able to work so they are available more often to patch potholes.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to patch the potholes,” Wilson added. “As the ground thaws and stabilizes, we’ll see the number of potholes drop significantly. In the meantime, we’ll continue to do everything we can.”

Wilson noted that the pothole situation would be much worse this year if RCOC had not resurfaced or reconstructed approximately 80 miles of the roads over the last three years. “Many of the roads that we resurfaced were the worst pothole roads,” he added.

Additionally, RCOC is committed to spending every penny of additional funding it receives if the state Legislature approves the $175 million in additional one-time road funding this year as proposed by the governor. “That would mean $7 million for RCOC,” Wilson said. “And, we’ll put all of that money directly into new road surfaces this year.”